What is pregnancy acne ?
Hello family! Welcome to another exciting post. For those of you who are here for the first time , Know that you are truly welcomed. I am sure most of us have had some experience with acne. However, because this is not a highly critical problem, I might be able to help you fix this on your own and in less than 10 minutes! Let's give it a try.
Acne as I can personally remember was one of the horror stories of my life! If you keep reading I will tell you all about it. What is it?
Acne is a common outbreak of the skin that happens when dead cells and oils clog the hair follicles. There could be varied reasons behind it. Let us have a look at some common causes of acne. I must say it is, however, least understood, but there are some general causes behind it and just know that it is the same acne that haunted so many of us during our teenage years.
My experience with acne:
My horrible experience with acne began at the age of fourteen. I remember my beautiful face totally covered in painful bumps . When I was talking to others, instead of them looking directly at me, they studied my bumps instead. I was so embarrassed.
What causes acne during pregnancy?
Pregnancy acne is caused the same way it occurs during adolescence the only difference is that there is an over- production due to an increase in hormones in the blood. You see during pregnancy your body is loaded with chemicals at a high rate.
Usually acne is the worst during the first trimester when your body begins building up hormones and also can increase during the third trimester when the maximum build up ends. I remember having some acne during my pregnancies but not really severe like in my teens.
General causes of acne:
Here are some of the general causes of acne :
Medications
Medications like steroids, antibiotics, and halogens are associated with creating acne. Acne caused due to certain types of drugs is termed drug-induced acne.
Hormonal Imbalance
Did you know that if your hormones are imbalanced it can cause acne as a female? Low estrogen levels is known to cause acne problems e.g. PCOS (polycystic ovaries Syndrome)
Hereditary
Science believes that there is a genetic connection to your parents i.e. if they had acne , the chances of you having it is higher. When I did my research as a teenager, I discovered that at some point the majority of us develop it, no matter what we do. After knowing this I felt comforted knowing that one day it will go away FOREVER!!!! ( and it did).
Cosmetics
This I know is true. Whenever I use make-up and don’t clean my pores properly, I tend to get more acne. Remember too that cosmetics have expiry dates and you should check it out. Putting expired, and low quality cosmetics on your face puts you at a higher risk for bad acne. Cosmetics can clog your pores, hence be careful of staying with your skin type when purchasing. The skin could vary ranging from dry to normal and oily skin. If someone faces acne, then go for water-based products.
Age
We know that acne is mostly faced by teenagers with the reason being the onset of puberty which is stimulated by hormones. (Testosterone causes skin sebaceous glands to secrete more oil. More oil will increase the chance of getting acne).
Let’s clear up some misconceptions about pregnancy acne:
Many people are of the belief that acne is caused by various situations like the weather, drinking alcohol, and bad skin . Did you know these are not the real cause.
We’ve reached the meat of this post - How to fix this issue? Here are 10 Super, Easy, and Safe Tips to Help Your Pregnancy Acne to Get Better
Tip 1- Avoid touching your face by all means
I observed that as I stopped touching my face my acne problem began getting better. Dirt from your hands and nails can rest on your face and lead to worsening acne. So keep those hands off your face.
Tip 2 - If your acne is really serious, have a discussion with your OBGYN
If you want to treat pregnancy acne, talk to your OBGYN about your alternatives, even if they're only over-the-counter medications. Many skincare products contain chemicals that can enter your baby's body and cause injury.
Make it your business mama to ensure that the prescribed treatment is safe for you and your baby. Do your own research with all medications prescribed for you this time especially if you are in the first trimester.
Tip 3 - Only wash face two times per day
Limit your washing to two times per day and after a really severe sweating session.
Tip 4- Always wash face gently with a clean cotton or soft cloth
Wash your face gently with a cotton pad or washcloth
Tip 5 - Always use a soft oil -free, non -abrasive cleanser
When you do wash, make sure to use a soft cleanser that is oil-free, alcohol-free, and non-abrasive.
Tip 6-Rinse face with lukewarm water, pat dry, and then apply a moisturizer
Rinse your skin with lukewarm water after washing. After that, pat dry carefully and apply moisturizer. This makes your face feel so good and helps to keep dirt on the face at bay. This can make acne worse especially if your pimples are open.
Tip 7- Avoid excessive washing of your face
Excessive cleansing should be avoided. It has the potential to overstimulate the oil glands on the skin.
Tip 8- Shampoo constantly if you have oily skin
Shampoo on a constant basis. If you have oily skin, you should shampoo every day. Near the forehead, avoid using oily hair mousse or pomade.
Replace your pillowcases on a regular basis.
Tip 9- Invest in some earbuds. Holding a cellphone against your face is not a good idea
Investing in some earbuds is a good idea. Holding a cellphone against your face is not a good idea because of the many places we put it down to collect dirt.
Tip 10- Change your pillow cases when needed
Changing my pillow case regularly really helped to make my acne better. Yes mam, as simple as me changing my pillow case and even changing my pillow sure hope it does for you. These are the tips that really helped be to make my acne BETTER. And like I told you ACNE DOES NOT LAST FOREVER. It must end one day. So stay optimistic and hopeful. Prayer also helped me, I talked to God about it.
"Be careful about nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God ".Philippians 4:6
Here is more info for you on pregnancy acne: Link @
ACNE DURING PREGNANCY | How to SAFELY treat - YouTube
Conclusion
The last thing you need to know about pregnancy acne is that it is very common skin condition not only during adolescence but also during pregnancy. We know that hormones are the main culprit during this time. Also remember that your immune system can make you a target for pregnant acne.
The immune system aids in the fight against acne, and a woman's immune system is continually changing and partly repressed during pregnancy. I hope you learned something about pregnancy acne. If you experienced it let me know what helped and what did not. I hope your pregnancy is going well.
Moreover, the stress that commonly comes with pregnancy can raise stress hormone levels, causing outbreaks or worsening existing acne.
I want to know what your biggest challenge is with acne or your pregnancy? Share what you did to improve or make it better. Please like, share, ask a question, or comment. Also let me know what topics you would like for me to help you with. Thanks for stopping by and do come again.
ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE
Mark 9:23
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